HOLOTYPE.—USNM 70075
NUMBER 5 6 77 TYPE LOCALITIES.—Sarawak, Borneo (licarsisalis);
Sidney, Australia (pharaxalis); New Guinea (fumi- dalis); Java (immundalis).
DISTRIBUTION.—South and East Asia, Malacca, Borneo, Java, Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Syria, Belgian Congo, Madagascar, Egypt, Cape Verde Is- lands. The six specimens from Rapa (4 o" d, 2 $ $ ) were collected at Haurei (8.IX to 3.X.1963).
FOOD PLANTS.—Cynodon dactylon Pers. Hyparrhen- sis species, Beta vulgaris Linnaeus, rice, other grasses.
It is apparent that licarsisalis accepts many grasses as larval food, but we found no evidence of feeding on any of the grasses examined, and the moth was not common during our visit.
Genus Diasemiopsis Munroe
Diasemiopsis Munroe, 1957, p. 166, figs. 11, 12. (Type-species:
Hydrocampa ramburialis Duponchel, 1831, p. 343, pi. 233:
fig. 6. [by original designation].)
Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel)
FIGURE 72; PLATE 9h
Hydrocampa ranburialis Duponchel, 1831, p. 343, pi. 233:
fig. 6.
Diasemia ramburialis (Duponchel), Guenee, 1854, p. 234.—
Heinemann, 1865, p. 99.—Wocke, 1871, p. 213.—Meyrick, 1884, p. 302.—Leech, 1886, p. 45, pl.6: fig. 2.—Meyrick, 1887, p. 219.—Moschler, 1890, p. 306.—Meyrick, 1895, p. 404.—Hampson, 1896, p. 411.—Rebel, 1901, p. 58.—
Barnes and McDunnough, 1917, p. 132.—Forbes, 1923, pp.
68, 558.—Shibuya, 1928, p. 270.—Meyrick, 1928, p. 420;
1929, p. 164.—Pierce and Metcalf, 1938, p. 23, pi. 13.—
McDunnough, 1939, p. 13.—Ghesquieie, 1942, p. 181.—
Viette, 1949a, p. 324.—Beirne, 1952, p. 128, pi. 10: fig.
10.—Inoue, 1955, p. 184.—Paulian and Viette, 1955, p.
185.—Marion, 1957, p. 86—Janmoulle, 1962, p. 5.
Nymphula ramburialis (Duponchel), Fischer von Roslerstam, 1842, p. 381, pi. 92: fig. 3a.
Botys ramburialis (Duponchel), Herrich-Schaffer, 1849, p.
26.
Isopteryx melaleucalis Walker, 1859, p. 402.
Diasemia leucophaealis Walker, 1866, p. 1326.
Diasemia reconditalis Walker, 1866, p. 1325.
Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel), Munroe, 1957, p.
166, figs. 11, 12.—Hanneraann, 1964, pp. 304(224) figs.
224-224<f.
Male genitalia slide JFGC 11734. Harpe elongate, widest about middle; costa and ventral edge evenly sclerotized, meeting at the narrow cucullus. Uncus slender, expanded distally, clothed with strong setae
382-271 O—71 6
directed anteriorly. Vinculum expanded laterally, cen- trally, a narrow bar with small median projection. Teg- umen short and broad; strong hair pencils from two membranous pockets at base laterally. Anellus broad basally, tonguelike posteriorly. Aedeagus moderately slender; vesica armed with one strong cornutus and a line of smaller ones.
Female genitalia slide JFGC 11735. Ostium mem- branous, funnel shaped. Inception of ductus seminalis from junction of membranous and sclerotized parts of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae mostly membranous pos- teriorly; anteriorly heavily sclerotized, broad and flat- tened. Bursa copulatrix membranous. Signum a long, narrow, curved band with central keel.
TYPES.—British Museum (Natural History) {mela- leucalis) , (leodocusalis, leucophaealis, reconditalis);
Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (ramburialis).
TYPE LOCALITIES.—Corsica (ramburialis); Ceylon (melaleucalis); United States (leodocusalis); Sydney, Australia (reconditalis); Moreton Bay (leuco- phaealis) .
DISTRIBUTION.—Cosmopolitan.
From Rapa we have 94 d1 d1 and 27 ? $ . All were collected in the churchyard at Haurei (September and October dates) except the following: Anatakuri nako,
$ (14.X.1963);Maurua,600'(184m), d1, $ (25.IX and 22.X.1963); Point Tepapa, $ (15.IX.1963);
Taga, 575' (176 m), ? (4.X.1963); Tevaitau, 75C (231m), $ (29.IX.1963).
Of this species Meyrick (1929, p. 164) states,
"Ranges from S. Europe to Africa. S. Asia, Australia, N. America; occasionally found in England, and clearly a great wanderer."
FOOD PLANT.—Unknown?
Munroe (1957, p. 166) has illustrated and de- scribed what he considers to be the true ramburialis and there is no reason to question his findings. The Rapa specimens agree with the European material he describes, but until the types of the presently recog- nized synonyms are investigated their true relationship to ramburialis must remain unknown.
At present, ramburialis is considered to be cosmo- politan in distribution but this is now very much in doubt.
We failed to rear this species and it is curious that I am unable to find any reference to its food plant or habits, even in the latest publications on the species.
78
72a
FIGURE 72.—Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel): a, ventral view of made genitalia and corema with left side and aedeagus removed; b, aedeagus; c, ventral view of female genitalia.
NUMBER 5 6
Genus Metasia Guenee
Metasia Guenie, 1854, p. 251. (Type-species: Metasia sup- pandalis Guenie, 1854, p. 252 [designated by Hampson,
1899, p. 237].)
Metasia chionostigma, new species FIGURE 73; PLATE \\a,b,e,f
Alar expanse 10-12 mm.
Labial palpus white; second and third segments marked with blackish fuscous on outer side above.
Maxillary palpus similarly colored. Antenna black.
Head gray; some specimens with white on crown and posteriorly. Thorax white; anteriorly narrowly black or blackish fuscous and posteriorly a large spot of same color; base of tegula black or blackish fuscous. Fore- wing ground color black or blackish fuscous; extreme base white; on costa a median white spot, large, quad- rate (Plate 11/) or small, nearly obsolete (Plate l l a ) , from terminal fifth of costa to termen at vein 2, an irregular, white, transverse line; between this line and median white spot, a small white spot (absent in some specimens); at end of cell a small white dot; on dorsum two small white patches; cilia gray with a blackish fuscous basal band.
Hind wing white in basal half, fuscous apically and narrowly around anal angle; cilia gray with a fuscous basal band. Legs white suffused and banded with fus- cous. Abdomen blackish fuscous to black dorsally, gray- ish fuscous ventrally, all segments narrowly edged white.
Male genitalia slides JFGC 11690, 11692. Harpe about three times as long as broad; outer surface with many curved or curled, stiff setae. Uncus broad basally, narrowed at middle, expanded distally; terminal end clothed with stiff setae. Vinculum broad at middle.
Tegumen about as long as broad; long, strong setae from dorsal and lateral surfaces. Anellus a broad, lightly sclerotized plate, narrowed posteriorly and with a median, anterior projection. Aedeagus slender proximally, widened distally; vesica armed with an elongate cluster of small comuti and a series of larger ones.
Female genitalia slides JFGC 11691, 11693. Ostium membranous, cupped; antrum broadly, but lightly, sclerotized. Inception of ductus seminalis ventral and anterior to antrum. Ductus bursae membranous. Bursa
79 copulatrix membranous, with scattered, small spines on inner surface. Signum a small nodule.
HOLOTYPE.—USNM 70079.
TYPE LOCALITY.—Rapa, Maugaoa, 950' (292 m).
DISTRIBUTION.—Rapa.
FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.
Described from the d1 holotype (7.XI.1963), 2 d1 o"
and 10 ? $ paratypes: Maugaoa, 950' (292 m), 3
$ $ (5-7.XI.1963); Perau, 19007 (585 m), 2 o"o*, 7 $ $ (15.X.1963).
The costal spot, sometimes reduced as in the holo- type (Plate lla) and the much darker coloring dis- tinguish chionostigma from empelioptera immediately.
The male and female genitalia are similar but differ as described under empelioptera.
Metasia gnorisma, new species FIGURE 74; PLATE 1 \c, g
Alar expanse 14—17 mm.
Labial palpus light buff; dorsal half of second seg- ment blackish fuscous on outer side; third segment almost wholly blackish fuscous. Maxillary palpus blackish fuscous except for spot of buff on inner sur- face. Antenna grayish buff, annulated fuscous; scape grayish buff, marked with a few fuscous scales. Head grayish buff. Thorax buff, irrorate with fuscous; tegula fuscous anteriorly. Forewing ground color buff to warm buff; basal two-fifths fuscous, the costal and outer edges of this area blackish fuscous; beyond the dark basal area, in cell, a large blotch of ground color, sometimes extended to form an ill-defined light fascia (Plate We); at outer, costal side of this light area a fuscous crescentic mark; outer half of wing fuscous with an irregular, transverse line of ground color from outer fifth of costa to vein 3 and some ill-defined buff spots showing through the darker color; on costa, before the transverse line, a large blackish-fuscous spot;
underside fuscous except for a buff spot on costa at outer fifth and a buff spot in cell; cilia grayish buff with a series of fuscous spots basally. Hind wing basal two-thirds white, outer third fuscous; cilia white at anal angle, shading to grayish buff around outer margin to apex, the latter with a series of fuscous spots. Foreleg buff; femur and tibia suffused fuscous; tarsal segments broadly annulated blackish fuscous; midleg and hind leg buff; tibial spurs and tarsal segments annulated fuscous. Abdomen buff; dorsally first segment with spot of fuscous; second and sixth segments immaculate;
80
73 c
FIGURE 73.—Metasia chionostigma, new species: a, venation of right wings; b, ventral view of male genitalia with left harpe and aedeagus removed; c, aedeagus; d, ventral view of female genitalia.
NUMBER 56 81
FIGURE 74.—Metasta gnonsma, new species: a, ventral view of male genitalia with left harpe and aedeagus removed; b, aedeagus; c, ventral view of female genitalia.
third to fifth and seventh blackish fuscous except posterior edge; eighth segment with fuscous spot posterolaterally.
Male genitalia slides JFGC 11461, 11894. Harpe simple, broadest beyond middle; basal half of outer surface with strong, flattened, curled setae. Uncus divided posteriorly, each lobe clothed with stiff setae.
Vinculum rounded, broadest at middle. Tegumen broader than long. Anellus a lightly sclerotized, lingui- form plate, broadly expanded at base. Aedeagus narrow proximally, widest distally; vesica armed with an elongate group of small cornuti.
Female genitalia slide JFGC 11462. Ostium round;
anterior lip sclerotized. Antrum sclerotized, oval. In- ception of ductus seminalis at junction of antrum and membranous part of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae short; anterior two-thirds membranous. Bursa copu- latrix membranous. Signum a slender, lightly sclero- tized plate with central keel.
HOLOTYPE.—USNM 70078.
TYPE LOCALITY.—Rapa, Perau, 1900' (585 m).
DISTRIBUTION.—Rapa.
FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.
Described from the o" holotype (15.X.1963) 5 <S d and 5 ? $ paratypes from: Maugaoa, 950' (292m),
4 0*0" (23.XI.1963) ; Perau, 1900' (585 m), tf, 5
? 9 (15.X.1963).
The divided uncus and the shape of the antrum distinguish gnorisma from chionostigma and empeliop- tera. It may be distinguished, also, from chionostigma by the spotted cilia of the wings.
Metasia empelioptera, new species
FIGURE 7 5 ; PLATE 1 Id
Alar expanse 10-11 mm.
Labial palpus white; second segment blackish fuscous on outer surface in upper half; third segment almost wholly fuscous. Maxillary palpus white on inner side, blackish fuscous on outer side. Antenna sordid white, shading to gray toward apex. Head ocherous white, frons shaded laterally with fuscous. Thorax ocherous white; tegula anteriorly fuscous. Forewing ground color ocherous white; on base of costa a rectangular fuscous spot; on basal angle a round fuscous spot; basal two-fifths of wing shaded with fuscous, followed by a median fascia of ground color;
beyond the fascia, apical half of wing infuscated lightly (darker in female) ; at apical fifth of costa a fuscous spot preceded by a larger area of the white ground
75a
FIGURE 75.—Metasia empelioptera, new species: a, ventral view of male genitalia with left harpe and aedeagus removed; b3 aedeagus.
NUMBER 5 6 83 color; cilia grayish, with a subbasal row of fuscous
spots. The female is more strongly marked than the male.
Hind wing white; apical third grayish fuscous; cilia white around anal angle, shading to grayish at apex, the terminal and apical cilia with a series of subbasal fuscous spots. Foreleg ocherous white; tibia infuscated on outer side; tarsal segments banded blackish fuscous;
midleg similar but infuscation of tibia confined to dis- tal end and tibial spurs; hind leg ocherous white; fus- cous spot on outer side between tibial spurs; tarsal segments marked with fuscous on outer side. Abdomen ocherous white; anterior segments with fuscous irrora- tion dorsally; sixth segment immaculate; seven and eight fuscous dorsally, eighth with fuscous spot ventro- posteriorly.
Male genitalia slide JFGC 11473. Harpe simple, broad basally, narrowed toward cucullus; cucullus rounded; from outer surface long, strong, curved setae.
Uncus moderately stout, of nearly even width through- out; apex clothed with strong setae. Vinculum rounded, very broad in median area. Tegumen about as long as broad, with long, strong setae from dorsal and lateral surfaces. Anellus a large, lightly sclerotized plate with median anterior projection. Aedeagus nar- row proximally, twice as wide distally; vesica armed with an elongate patch of small cornuti.
Female genitalia slide JFGC 11895. Details of the female genitalia are almost entirely obscured by heavy mold. In the ductus bursae, which broadens abruptly a short distance anterior to the obscured ostium, there appears to be a small, elongate, sclerotized area. The bursa copulatrix is membranous, clothed with scattered spicules as in chionostigma; signum a small, sauroform tooth.
HOLOTYPE.—USNM 70077.
TYPE LOCALITY.—Rapa, Piahu, 750' (231 m).
DISTRIBUTION.—Rapa.
FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.
Described from the d1 holotype (11.X.I963) and one ? paratype, Tevaitau, 700' (215 m) (29.IX.
1963).
This species is nearest to chionostigma but differs from it by having a complete white median fascia.
Also, the harpe of empelioptera is narrower than that of chionostigma and the vesica lacks the series of large cornuti of the latter species. In addition, chionostigma lacks the spotted cilia of empelioptera.
Genus Piletocera Lederer
Piletocera Lederer, 1863, p. 431, pi. 16: fig. 15. (Type- species: Piletocera violalis Lederer, 1863, p. 431 [by mono- typy]-)
Piletocera signiferalis isola, new subspecies
FIGURES 76, 7 7 ; PLATE 9e. f
Alar expanse 17-24 mm.
Labial palpus pale buff, second segment pale olive gray dorsally; third segment grayish drab. Antenna fuscous with a buff dash at basal fourth dorsally and buff dorsally beyond middle; scape grayish drab. Head grayish drab, dorsally mixed with buff; frons with narrow transverse fuscous bar just beneath base of antenna. Thorax grayish fuscous; anteriorly narrowly buff. Forewing ground color grayish drab; orbicular fuscous with well-defined white crescentic mark in center; reniform fuscous, filling outer end of cell; from both orbicular and reniform an outwardly curved fuscous line extends to dorsum; from outer third of costa a fuscous line curves outwardly to vein 3 where it becomes obsolete; middle third of costa and a wedge- shaped mark beyond fuscous transverse line, ocherous buff; transverse lines bordered outwardly with buff;
cilia grayish drab with darker basal band. Hind wing grayish drab, shading to ochraceous buff basally and along costa; a broad, fuscous, transverse fascia at basal third and another at outer third, each bordered with buff on outer edge; cilia grayish drab with dark basal line except for buff band at middle of termen and ochraceous buff around anal angle to base; foreleg buff; tibia suffused grayish on outer side and tibial tuft fuscous, mixed with cluster of long, ochraceous buff scales; tarsal segments suffused grayish on outer side;
midlegs and hind legs buff; tarsal segments of midleg slightly suffused grayish on outer side. Abdomen fus- cous dorsally, ochraceous buff ventrally; laterally broadly shaded orange buff.
In the females the coloring is sharper than in the males, the buff edging of the transverse fasciae broader and more conspicuous; the reniform is edged outwardly with a white spot and there is a similar spot on the middle of the hind wing near costa.
Male genitalia slides JFGC 11674, 11726. Harpe ample, broadest beyond middle; cucullus truncate;
clasper C-shaped. Uncus broad basally, narrowed to beyond middle, curved, terminated by a spined, oval knob. Vinculum broad, cup shaped. Tegumen subrec- tangular, dilated laterally. Anellus a suboval plate,
76 b
FIGURE 76.—Piletocera signiferalis isola, new subspecies: a, ventral view of male genitalia with left harpe and aedeagus removed; b, aedeagus; c, ventral view of female genitalia.
NUMBER 5 6 85
77
FIGURE 77.—Piletocera signiferalis isola, new subspecies. Right corema of male, expanded.
broadest ventrally with a winglike expansion on each side. Aedeagus nearly straight, widest at apex; comuti consisting of several small rectangular plates and one narrow rod. Corema greatly involved with modified scales and setae.
Female genitalia slides JFGC 11675, 11727. Ostium wide, slitlike. Antrum narrowly sclerotized. Inception of ductus seminalis slightly anterior to antrum. Ductus bursae short, gradually merging with the bursa copula- trix. Bursa copulatrix membranous with broad band of tiny stellate signa. Lamella postvaginalis with slightly sclerotized triangular area.
HOLOTYPE.—USNM 70107.
TYPE LOCALITY.—Rapa, Haurei.
DISTRIBUTION.—Rapa.
FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.
Described from the d holotype (24.X.1963), 12 cf cf and 38 $ $ paratypes as follows: Haurei 12 cf cf, 34 $ ? , (28.IX-24.XI.1963); Pariati Bay $ , (30.X.1963); Point Tepapa ? , (15.IX.1963); Point Teakauraee $ , (7.X.1963); Tevaitau, 750' (231 m),
$ (29.IX.1963).
Typical signiferalis was described from Tahiti, but it is quite evident that the Tahitian and Rapan popula- tions have been isolated for a sufficiently long time to
permit development of two distinct races. Of the Ra- pan population, Dr. Whalley states (in litteris, 8 No- vember 1967)
. . . I have compared your specimens with ours from Tahiti (the type locality of signiferalis). Externally there are differ- ences in pattern but there is very little in the genitalia. There are slight differences but one would have to see a lot more of this species. I have looked at signiferalis from the other is- lands. There certainly is a trend to produce endemic "units"
(perhaps species?) in the different islands. As our collection [BMNH] stands at present I cannot match your Rapa speci- mens with any other species. If (!) my Tahitian signiferalis is correct—and as far as one can tell from the original description . . . it is reasonably close to the description, then I am sure your specimens are conspecific. However, I think that they probably represent a good subspecies on Rapa.
Since the above was written my wife and I have ac- quired a very representative series of signiferalis from Tahiti. This series confirms Mr. Whalley's interpreta- tion to the letter and demonstrates clearly the differ- ences between signiferalis signiferalis and signiferalis isola.
Our specimens of typical signiferalis are darker and average smaller that the specimens of isola. In the latter the transverse fasciae of the wings exhibit a broader, but suffused, development of the pale edges
and the underside of the abdomen is paler. Moreover, the markings of both forewings and hind wings are more sharply contrasted in the typical race than in isola, and the white spots are larger and much more conspicuous.
It is quite probable that the various synonyms asso- ciated with signiferalis represent valid geographical races.
Genus Scoparia Haworth
Scoparia Haworth, 1812, p. 498. (Type-species: Scoparia cembrae Haworth, 1812, p. 498 [subsequent designation by Shibuya, 1928a, p. 169].)
All of the Rapa species of Scoparia can be distin- guished from closely related forms by the dark apices of the hind wings.
Key to the Species of Scoparia
Forewing with two well-defined transverse fasciae 2 Forewing without two well-defined fasciae psednopa Meyrick Forewing heavily dusted and overlaid with dark gray exterminate Meyrick Forewing with distinct yellowish tinge; not heavily dusted dark gray tivira, new species
Scoparia exterminata Meyrick
FIGURE 78; PLATE 12a, b
Scoparia exterminata Meyrick, 1929, p. 169.
Male genitalia slide JFGC 11718. Harpe ample, cu- cullus broad, rounded, costa sharply convex before cucullus; on ventral edge at outer two-thirds, a setose tubercle. Gnathos U-shaped, with long, slender, me- dian process. Uncus narrow, densely clothed with setae.
Vinculum rounded. Tegumen about half as long as harpe, constricted posteriorly. Anellus round basally with long posterior process. Aedeagus moderately stout, bent beyond middle.
Female genitalia slide JFGC 11719. Ostium funnel shaped. Inception of ductus seminalis at juncture of sclerotized and membranous parts of ductus bursae.
Ductus bursae sclerotized in posterior half, narrowed and twisted anteriorly; anterior half membranous, spiraled. Bursa copulatrix granular on inner surface;
appendix bursae membraneous. Signum indicated by a raised, scobinate area.
TYPE.—British Museum (Natural History).
TYPE LOCALITY.—Rapa.
Dis TRIB UTION .—Rapa.
In this collection there are 20 <$ cf and 35 $ $ as follows: Haurei, d1 (17.IX.1963); Maugaoa, 800-950'
(245-292 m), 7 rfo", 11 ? ? (18.IX-23.XI.1963);
Maurua, 600' (184 m), 5 d1 d1, 9 $ $ (16.IX-22.X.
1963); Metua nako, d1 (12.XI.1963); Morogouta, 750' (231 m), 4 ? $ (10.X.1963); Perau, 1900' (585 m) (15.X.1963); Piahu, 750' (231 m), cf
1963), ? ; Teumukopuke, 500' (154 m), 2 o*o", 3
? $ (3.XI.1963); Tevaitau, 800' (245 m), 3 o*cf, 6 $ ? (21.IX-18.XI.1963).
FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.
Although Meyrick had both sexes of this species before him when he described it, he failed to mention the sex-scaling on the hind wing of the male. This scaling is whitish ocherous and gives a rough appear- ance to all of the wing except apex and costa.
Scoparia psednopa Meyrick
FIGURE 79; PLATE 96
Scoparia psednopa Meyrick, 1929, p. 169.
Male genitalia slide JFGC 11722. Harpe broadest before apex; costa convex; cucullus rounded. Gnathos with long, slender, median projection. Uncus narrow, bluntly pointed, clothed with fine setae. Vinculum rounded. Tegumen half as long as harpe, narrowed posteriorly. Anellus a round, sclerotized plate with long, posterior projection. Aedeagus moderately stout, slightly twisted.
Female genitalia slide JFGC 11723. Ostium wide, funnel shaped. Inception of ductus seminalis at junc- ture of sclerotized and membranous portions of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae sclerotized in posterior half, membranous and spiraled in anterior half. Bursa copu- latrix studded with fine teeth on interior surface; ap- pendix bursae membranous. Signum a small, scobinate plate.